SDA Church: We will not condone wrongdoing!

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church, rocked by charges of sexual misconduct against two of its Pastors, has declared that the church will not condone wrongdoing.

The two Pastors were granted bail this week after being charged with indecent assault and unlawful sexual connection.

Roger Stephen, the Executive Secretary of the Saint Lucia Mission of Seventh Day Adventists, told a news conference today that the SDA church has been a well respected denomination in Saint Lucia, serving the country for over 100 years and making a ‘significant’ contribution to the development and growth of the nation.

“It is unfortunate that at this juncture the church is now faced with allegations involving two of our employees which has resulted in hurting families and much negative publicity,” Stephen told reporters.

He explained that while the church strives to uphold righteousness and purity as God’s ideal, like all other churches the religious organisation is not immune to human imperfections and fallibility.

“Heaven is a perfect place but mysteriously, sin was found in the heart of a perfect angel – Lucifer, in a perfect environment,” the SDA official observed.

He declared that the SDA church will not condone sin or wrongdoing in any form or fashion whether involving members of the pew, leaders or Pastors.

However he explained that following the example of Christ, the church cannot rush to judgement.

“We seek to reach out to all who are hurting,” Stephen told reporters.

“We therefore appeal to all to allow the course of justice to take effect in this matter and don’t rush to judgement,” the SDA official stated.

He said the church remains confident with all faith and assurance that the Lord will carry ‘his’ church through this difficult moment as he has done in such a ‘mighty’ way in the past.

Stephen said the SDA church continues to pray for all who have been adversely affected, all church members and the nation on the whole.

He also lamented that there have been many untrue media reports, including claims that the SDA church has been transferring Pastors overseas.

Related Articles

32 Comments

Anonymous

As a seventh day adventist Christian, I truly support the pastor I will pray for my dear brothers and sisters in christ for God to make them strong and I encourage them to keep their eyes on the almighty God,prayers prayers please pray praise God last days.

Loading...

Anonymous

Anonymous

At least these were caught what’s about those undercover hypocrites it is wrong no doubt but who is without sin cast the first stone this is why Christ send his son to redeem us from sin befor me get judgemental we jv to first clean own closets

Anonymous

Hypocracy. Where does Ubaldus Raymond
(the Elder) Factor in the scenerio, The press release sounds like something he would have writen.” Allow the course of justice to take Effect”, should’nt the perpetrators of these acts be condemmed in the strongest terms, or do we have to wait for the influence of the church to “take effect” to tip the scales of justice in a particular direction.

Loading...

The Crow

Please, get it right. Dr. Raymond is not an elder within the Church organization and certainly has never been an elder within the Church that he worships. So please, do not continue to spread this untruth. Thank you.

Anonymous

the shah

Roger Steven. Did you refer to the pastors as ” employees”? Is the church then a business?
Having said this please allow me to say let justice take it’s course. One is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Amie dodo

Woe we all sinners so stop thinking that is only Catholics that are the sinners, in your face sala,s d a ,advent tricks and advent vice thats what it stands for but we Catholics we do our things bold,in Jesus Name Amen

Loading...

Truth Seeker

The Adventist Church Officials must speak truthfully . Wherever there is smoke there is fire. The press conference was held only because this incident is out in the public domain. What happen to the several other matters that are swept under the carpet. Come on Pastor God knows everything. You can foul the people some of the times but not all the time.
Hope the message of living in obedience is the theme for your Sabbath this week.

Loading...

Rose

I guess most of you are not reading your Bible that’s why so many wants justice. Let’s take a look at the story of David. Let us let God deal with them. We all are hypocrites we all have sinned, there is none perfect no there is none the Bible said so. Yes if they are guilt let the earthly court judge them. Who are you to call them names. Please if you cannot say anything good keep the vacuum of your mouth shut. I am much surprised that this kind of behaviours are happening within the church. it is against God teaching and what Seventh Day Adventist belief and they should not condone such against women. Let us learn to forgive before we cast any stones. If they have committed this horrible act towards these women they surely should be punished not by you or me but God will punish them. I pray for all those invovle in this sandal.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Disappointed

Pastor are you serious? The heading for your press conference should be ” The Adventist Church condones wrongdoing ” Just think of the behaviour of the members that are public officials or board members within the church.
Not a word not a word from you Pastor.
So why now?
Pastor please review your notes from the crusade you recently preached and come back next week to speak to the media.
Happy Sabbath

CP

For those who support the Pastors involved,what if it turns out that they are culpable?Secondly when it involves the various churches A lot of people will put their hands into the fire in support of their ministers or clergy,What about the victims?We sometimes allow religion to shroud our ability to enact some common sense.Now some people say let God judge or we should not judge.But that is just another way of saying let us sweep it under the rug.The truth is that this has been going on in the various denominations for quite A long time and the SDA church is no exception.Furthermore A host of the laiety in the churches know or are privy sometimes to the immoral behaviour exhibited by their leaders but turn A blind eye.But when caught they the laiety are the first to utter some non-sensesical rationale such as let GOD judge etc.My support is totally for the victims who are going through or have gone through this.

Loading...

Anonymous

The Crow

I am in agreement with some of your sentiments but what if all this was made up? Remember, all a woman has to do is make an accusation then the police come in and make the arrest. There is no investigation prior to this action. It is after the arrest the investigation happens. This is totally unjust! Guilty until proven innocent!

If the parties are guilty, they should pay for their sins but until then, let’s hold off on the judgements.

Loading...

Nattie

The devil is at work, looking for whom he may devour/destroy, if u aren’t seeking the face of God, the devil will never attack u, like was said earlier, Catholics do their things bold in the name of Jesus , Amen. Do u think u can use the name of Jesus to make this comment ? God is a God of principle, commandments, laws and rules, don’t tell me u serve a God and u have no principles or laws to live by within ur church. We all condemn person when they sin, are we any better ? We condemn because we know it is wrong, but do we do the right things ? Its is only the persons involved who truely knows what happens, justice by man isn’t always fair or right, let God be the judge of everything. We need to look out for our own sins, and make things right with God, and pray for our fellow brethren, whether catholic, adventist, whatever they are, because all are brothers and sisters through the blood of the One and Only True and Living Jesus Christ. If a man sins, we should pray for them, not condemn them, Jesus didn’t give us that kind of authority. Let’s make our lives right with Christ before we condemn.

Loading...

Brother R.D

Well well. We treat sex like it is the only sin that can be found in the word of God. let’s think for moment the word said all have sin and come short of the glory of God. Not some . It also said there is no one that is perfect read exodus 20:1-18 the laws are God . Roger is payed by the church he has to protect the mission image. so stop talking about how long the church has been in slu . The word of God is older than you and the church. Call sin by its name if you want to root it out of the church. There were grate men of God that fell short of the mark .that were the church should pray with these pastors .and for then. and the wife’s to forgive then it’s not going to be easy for them for the coming weeks and months. Seek God’s face when we fall. In closing we treat pastors like Gods. We are all equal in the eyes of the father. Leaders have a grater role to play
. Because they are to lead the people of God . Remember the pastor is not the enemy it’s satin let’s pray for each other . Amen.

Loading...

Brother R.D

Well well. We treat sex like it is the only sin that can be found in the word of God. let’s think for moment the word said all have sin and come short of the glory of God. Not some . It also said there is no one that is perfect read exodus 20:1-18 the laws are God . Roger is payed by the church he has to protect the mission image. so stop talking about how long the church has been in slu . The word of God is older than you and the church. Call sin by its name if you want to root it out of the church. There were grate men of God that fell short of the mark .that were the church should pray

Society

Anonymous

WHO WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE, PLEASE I BEG! How can some of u understand spiritual things when.u who are natural, can’t even.understand natural things. Smh, i pray God we as a people, don’t condemn when another is being chastise for wrong doing. His might be this, but u know u are not in the clear either. WE ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. NON IS RIGHTEOUS, NO! NOT ONE. Thats why GOD came to die, so he can reconcile us back to himself. Catholic priest are sinners, SDA pastors are sinners, they are all trying to serve as best as they could. People lets keep praying for each other, and encouraging one another. satan.has no friends, he hates all of us equally. Think about this, God bless.

Anonymous

Anonymous

I am from a SDA church from another country. And I am saying all sin is sin. Let us encourage each other. Love the sinner and hate the sin. God is still on the throne. These are wake up calls, the trumpet
is blowing church. Keep the hope and faith Jesus is coming soon